Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American who spent more than four years in Russian detention, following a direct request from President Donald Trump. Unlike previous diplomatic releases, the United States did not trade any Russian prisoners in return.
Hubbard, a former school teacher from Michigan, had moved to eastern Ukraine after marrying a Ukrainian woman. Russian forces captured him in 2022 during the war. A Russian court later sentenced him in a closed trial to nearly seven years in prison, claiming he fought as a mercenary—a paid foreign fighter—for Ukraine. The United States officially classified him as wrongfully detained and raised serious concerns about his age and health.
The release happened as White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg to discuss plans to end the war in Ukraine. During the meeting, Putin confirmed that Hubbard was already at the airport. State media later showed footage of a smiling Hubbard shaking hands with Witkoff before boarding a flight to return home.
While Trump stated that the U.S. gave up nothing in exchange, the release took place alongside new diplomatic developments between the two nations. In recent weeks, the Trump administration agreed to buy Russian diesel fuel and paused some economic sanctions, while Moscow agreed to restart three-way peace talks with the U.S. and Ukraine. Hubbard's family expressed great relief, and his son thanked both presidents for securing his father's freedom.